The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-19
conclusion that, since the party has in no wise
improved, Mr.. Dickinson must have deteri-
THE grand jury of the Criminal Court have

THE grand jury of the Criminal Court have
returned several indictments against parties
in connection with the late city election. The
names of all the persons indicted have not
transpired, though the Democratic organ yes
terday morning was placed in possession of
the fact that the indictments had been found,
and said, gleefully, that they would surprise
sthe Republican committee of one hundred"
which organization seems to have a peculiar
terror for the gang of tally-sheet forgers and
all their hackers and organs. It is under
stood, however, that the indictments found
by this precious grand jury all against
Republicans, with the exception of one
against Samuel E. Perkins, who has the
eternal hatred of the gang by telling the
truth about the colossal crime against
the ballot ever committed in the State of In
diana. One of the indictments was made pub
lie last evening, and is against lawyer. who
is charged with swearing vote in when he
was not property holder in the precinct.
Mr.. Sprague explains the indictment, and
says he was and is legally competent to make
the affidavit upon which the charge is based.
This is question of fact, to be established by
the evidence; but the nature of the indict-
ments can be judged by this sample. The
indictments returned out of pure spite,
and to make reprisals for the efforts to
put in the penitentiary the unmitigated
scoundrels that forged the tally-sheets and
stole two Offices last November. The indict-
ments are returned by illegal grand jury,
one member of which has no right whatever
to be a member. The indictments
returned by grand jury which refused
to even consider the crime of last November,
but which is now seized with spasm of vir
tue to protect the ballot box. The indict-
ments are returned in a court where a former
grand jury committed open and notorious
contempt of court, and where the Judge
could not find law to inquire into their con-
duct, though specific charges were fled
before him by responsible person, with the
offer of proof. The indictments are found il
a court that has been powerless heretofore to
bring to justice men perfectly well known to
be guilty of the most fragrant crimes against
the ballot-box, and which is regarded to-day
as place Of refuge by the gang
Of tally-sheet forgers and criminal
liquor law violators Possibly Judge
Irwin will relish seeing his court made by
word and mockery of, and one of its chief
instruments of power used to wreak the pri-
vate revenge of gang of criminal scoundrels,
whose proper place is in the States prison.
and probably he will not Certain it is that
some judges would find way to prevent
their court from sinking under the weight of
popular contempt. and we think Judge Irwin
will. The gang may presume too much upon
his Observation-Disclosures and his indisposi-
ton to use the reserved powers that belong
to every court.
The Journal wants to see all violators of the
election laws punished. We want to see pure
elections guaranteed by tho vigorous enforce
ment of the laws against those who criminally
violate them. But the Journal is not fool
and the people are not fools, aud the reason
for the indictments reported to be found by
grand jury which would not even consider
the crime of last November will not be hard
to understand. Let the gang and their tools
proceed. They are winding the ropes about
their own necks